NO. 1 LUBBOCK CHRISTIAN (7-0)
vs. OKLAHOMA CITY (4-5, 3-0)
Saturday, Nov. 27 – 7 p.m. CT
Rip Griffin Center (Lubbock, Texas)
All-Time Series: OCU leads 34-12
 
SPRAYAWAY
Lubbock Christian has been excellent on the glass this year, posting a positive rebounding margin in all seven of their games so far this season. The season's largest margin came during the trip to Hawaii, when they led Hawaii Hilo by 13 rebounds and pulled down a season-high 47 boards. The Chaps' average rebounding margin for the season is 4.7, which ranks sixth in the Lone Star Conference. Parker Hicks is the team-leader in rebounding with 9.7 per game, a mark that leads the LSC and ranks No. 28 among all D-II players. It was Lloyd Daniels though, who led the Chaps in rebounds in two out of the three games in Hawaii.
 
DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
During the three games in Hawaii, LCU limited its opponents to just 51.3 points per game and a shooting percentage of only 31.7 percent. The high-mark for the Chap defense came in the game against Chaminade, who they limited to just 38 points. It was the lowest point total for the Silverswords since 1996. For the season, Lubbock Christian now boasts an opponent field goal percentage of 36.3, which leads the conference and is the seventh-best mark in the country. Chap opponents are averaging just 59 points per game and shooting an abysmal 27 percent from behind the arc.
 
AWARD CENTRAL
For the second-straight week, senior forward Parker Hicks was named the LSC Defensive Player of the Week. He had a pair of double-doubles during the Chaps' stay in Hawaii, which featured wins over No. 19 Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii Pacific and Chaminade. One came against the Vulcans, when he scored 12 points and had 10 rebounds. Hicks added another against Chaminade, with 12 points and 12 rebounds. He also had four blocks, three of which came in the win at Chaminade, which LCU limited to just 38 points, 28.6 percent shooting, and a 1-for-24 showing from behind the arc.
 
SHARP-SHOOTERS
While opponents have struggled to shoot the ball well against the Chaps, LCU has had a hot start to the year shooting themselves. They are 196-386 for the year as a team, shooting 50.8 percent from the field. That mark ranks second in the league and is the 24^th-best in the nation. Based on a minimum of 20 attempts, Zach Stepp is the team-leader in field goal percentage with a mark of 70.0 (14-20). Jalen Brattain (58.3), Hicks (53.8) and Daniels (52.6) have all hit more than half their shots this season. The Chaps have struggled somewhat from behind the arc, hitting only 37.2 percent, compared to 42.8 percent last year.
 
FAIR OR FOUL
The only other category in which the Chaparrals rank in the top 25 nationally is fewest personal fouls per game. They have averaged just 12.6 per contest through the first seven games, including a season-low of 10, which they did twice (11/13 vs. Colorado School of Mines, 11/20 vs. Arlington Baptist). Daniels and Aamer Muhammad have been the best at playing without fouling so far this year. They are the top two Chaps in minutes per game, but have committed just 10 and seven fouls, respectively.
 
NATIONALLY KNOWN
Last week, Lubbock Christian was ranked No. 1 nationally for the first time in program history, and they remain there after a 3-0 week in Hawaii. The Chaps occupy the top spot in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll­ with 398 points and 14 of the 16 first place votes. They received 10 of the 14 first place votes in the Division II Sports Information Directors Association poll with 390 points. Northwest Missouri State is the second place team in both polls. LCU had previously been ranked as high as No. 2 during the 2020-21 season. The highest the program was ever ranked in the NAIA was No. 4 from Jan. 20-27, 2004.
 
PROTECT THE RIP
Thursday's game is the fifth of 14 total home games for Lubbock Christian. The Chaps are 4-0 on their own court so far this season with an average of 81.8 points per game on 49.8 percent shooting. Opponents entering the Rip have been held to just 64.8 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting. In the 10-plus season under head coach Todd Duncan, LCU is 113-27 at home (.809).
 
SCOUTING THE STARS

• After an overtime win last Thursday against North Texas at Dallas, Oklahoma City has three straight victories and is undefeated in Sooner Athletic Conference play
• Two of OCU's losses on the young season came against teams ranked in the NAIA national top-25 (vs. No. 8 Bethel and No. 10 Carroll)
• Rashaun Coleman is the team's leading scorer with 15.3 points per game, but three other Stars are averaging double-figures
• Mark Berokoff is in his first season leading the Oklahoma City program. He was previously the head coach at Randall for nine years. He coached the Saints in several games against the Chaps, including a near upset Jan. 4, 2019, when the Chaps won 104-98 behind a program-record 47 points by Brennen Fowler
• Romario Spence leads the team in rebounding with an average of 8.1 boards per game. That mark is also the sixth-best in the SAC

 
THE SERIES WITH THE STARS
Lubbock Christian and Oklahoma City have a storied history with 56 games played all-time. The series dates back to 1989, and the teams met often when LCU was also a member of the Sooner Athletic Conference. OCU leads 34-12 all-time, but the Chaps did win three of the last four meetings. The last time the teams faced off on the hardwood was Feb. 2, 2013 in Oklahoma City. OCU won 88-69 behind 19 points from Terry Johnson.